Two more measles cases pop up in SD

Just hours after confirming two additional cases of measles Thursday, public health workers scrambled to identify and contact hundreds of residents who may have been exposed to the highly contagious disease at four locations across the county early this week.

Dr. Eric McDonald, the county’s deputy public health officer, said both cases are linked to a San Diego resident who recently tested positive for measles after visiting the Philippines, which is experiencing a measles outbreak with more than 1,700 cases.

California has seen more measles cases than usual this year, with 15 by Feb. 21 compared with only two in the first two months of 2013. McDonald said he spoke to state health officials Thursday, and that they said the total number of measles cases statewide is now up to 23.

Citing privacy concerns, McDonald declined to specify the age or gender of the three local residents who have tested positive for the disease. He did say that none has needed hospitalization.

“All three of these patients are doing well,” McDonald said.

The doctor himself may well have walked right past one of the two new patients Saturday while he was shopping at the Naval Base San Diego commissary at 2525 Callagan Highway. One of those patients had visited the location between 1 and 4 p.m. on that day.

“Just by coincidence, I was there on Saturday afternoon and I can tell you, it was very crowded,” McDonald said.

The doctor also said it is impossible to identify and notify everyone who was present at the commissary, but that it’s good that the contact occurred at a location filled with military personnel.

“They tend to be a pretty thoroughly immunized population,” he said.

Measles takes between seven and 21 days to develop after exposure. Initial symptoms include a runny nose and red eyes. A distinctive red rash appears on the head and face one to four days after those first symptoms and spreads outward and downward toward the hands and feet.

Those who visited the listed locations at the indicated times and have not had measles in the past, or haven’t had two vaccination shots, should contact their doctor within one week of the possible exposure to discuss medical evaluation and possible preventive treatment.

Those who don’t already have a doctor can call the county at (619) 692-8499.